Report: Brokers might have ‘ax to grind’ against Manziel, family

COLLEGE STATION – The question many have wondered since ESPN revealed the NCAA is investigating Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel might now have been at least partially answered: What might prompt anonymous memorabilia brokers to come forward with stories that Manziel took money for autographs? What do they have to gain? Nothing, apparently, but some might hold a grudge toward Manziel and his family for allegedly cutting into their business.

“When his family filed to (trademark) ‘Johnny Football,’ all of us dealers, and I’m talking like 500 of us, had items on eBay related to Johnny Manziel,” broker Rob Rudolph told CBSSports.com Wednesday. “They weren’t necessarily signed by him. I had Heisman programs from where he won the Heisman. So on that listing it would say, ‘Johnny Manziel, Johnny Football, Texas A&M Heisman Program.’ eBay swiped across the country and took all of those items down. All of ’em. And, in addition to that, they banned everyone who had done it for two weeks. No prior warning or nothing.

“I had 400 items up. I had six or eight related to Manziel and they pulled all of ’em. I called [eBay]. I said, ‘I’ve never had any trouble on eBay whatsoever.’ They said, ‘This is a legal thing and you violated a legal code so you’re suspended for two weeks.’ For me, I’m small time. That was an irritating thing because for two weeks, I couldn’t sell anything. I am quite sure for people whose livelihoods are this business, that was crippling.

“If there’s anybody who has an ax to grind, pick any of those people.”

The Aggies’ third practice of camp takes place tonight, and Manziel has participated in the first two evenings of drills, although he’s been withheld from the media. A&M has said there’s no timetable in place in terms of a resolution to its own “due diligence” regarding the NCAA investigation. A&M opens its season on Aug. 31 against Rice.